Dead crewman was found in cruiser Varyag

Dead body of a crewmember was found in cruiser Varyag returned to Vladivostok from the 4-day informal visit to South Korea. Today the body was transported to Leningrad region, reported PrimaMedia referring to an informed source in the military.

One of the crewmembers of Guard missile cruiser Varyag Ц 24-year old Lt. Ivan Egorov Ц died in the night of Nov 19 under unascertained circumstances. His body was found in the second day after the Pacific Fleet (PF) flagship Varyag returned to Vladivostok from the 4-day informal visit to South Korean port Incheon. According to the cruiser's commanding officer, that was a suicide. Allegedly, the guy hung himself.

"We do not comment this incident, investigators have not promulgated motives and conclusions either", said the representative of military investigative committee.

The head of PF Press Service Roman Martov said that the inquiry was conducted with participation of psychologists and military investigators. According to them, the reason of suicide was a conflict between the lieutenant and his wife.

However, relatives doubt that it was a suicide. The lieutenant's brother said to reporters that Ivan had phoned him several hours before the death; his voice was high-spirited and he boasted of gifts which he was going to bring his family.

Today, on Nov 25 the officer's body left Vladivostok in zinc coffin and was transported to Luga, Leningrad region to be buried at local cemetery. Ivan's father is visually handicapped, mother died 3 years ago. His young wife became widow two weeks after the wedding.

We recall that the Varyag's visit to South Korea was held in Nov 9-13. Along with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, the crew of Varyag participated in solemn ceremony on Nov 11 when the flag of legendary Russian cruiser Varyag which heroically entered the loosing battle against Japanese fleet in 1904 near Chemulpo (now Incheon) was triumphantly returned to Russia. The crew of present-day Varyag delivered the legendary predecessor's flag to Russia.